January 28, 2010 10:56 am

Federal Way’s first elected mayor will earn an annual salary of $112,800.

That’s $9,400 a month plus health insurance and vacation but no car allowance.

Based on Federal Way’s population of 88,580, the city’s Independent Salary Commission set the salary in proportion to strong mayors’ salaries at 14 Washington cities larger than 30,000.

The five-member commission used a mathematical formula to determine where Federal Way’s salary would fall to be in proportion within the group of 14 other cities. The commission uses the approach to stress fairness and accountability, setting a salary that is not too low or too high, said commission chairwoman Gloria Elliott.

The panel unanimously approved the salary Friday for the strong mayor, who will be elected Nov. 2.
Elected mayor’s salaries vary for nearby cities close to Federal Way’s size. Auburn’s mayor earns $116,742 a year while the mayor of Kent earns $102,192. Renton’s mayor is paid $129,828.

Currently, part-time Federal Way Mayor Linda Kochmar earns $1,975 a month. City Council members earn $1,625 monthly. The salary commission set those figures.

The elected mayor’s salary is subject to a referendum just like a city ordinance. Federal Way residents have 30 days from the official filing date of the salary – expected to be Feb. 6 – to submit a valid referendum petition that would require voters to approve the salary.

Federal Way residents voted last November to switch from a council-manager form of government to that of a strong elected mayor.

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